A Structural Equation Model of Project Manager Emotional Intelligence and Project Team Performance in Nigerian Oil Companies

Emotional intelligence (EI) of project managers is theoretically linked to team performance, yet structural empirical evidence from the Nigerian oil and gas sector is absent. This study develops and tests a structural equation model of project manager emotional intelligence and project team performance in Nigerian oil companies in Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa States. A cross-sectional survey will recruit 260 project team members and project managers from IOCs and independent operators. The Emotional and Social Competency Inventory (ESCI) will assess project manager EI across self-awareness, empathy, social skills, self-regulation, and motivation. Team performance will be measured through project schedule performance, team satisfaction, and innovation scores. Structural equation modeling (SEM) with AMOS will test direct and mediated pathways. This study responds to the gap in empirical EI-performance evidence from the Nigerian oil sector, where high-pressure project environments and multicultural team composition create unique leadership dynamics. Findings will generate evidence for EI-focused leadership development programs for project managers in Nigeria's oil industry. Keywords: emotional intelligence, project team performance, oil and gas, Nigeria, structural equation modeling